Pope Francis Used to Nightly Call Church in Gaza Amid Tragedy

In a tragic incident that has shocked the global community, Israeli tank fire struck the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, killing three people and injuring at least 10 others. Among the victims was Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the church, who was seen with a bandage around his leg. The church, the only Catholic house of worship in Gaza, had been a place of refuge for over 600 displaced people, many of them children and individuals with special needs.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret over the incident, calling it a “stray” round that mistakenly hit the church. However, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which oversees the Catholic community in the region, has questioned the claim, noting that the tank shell hit the church directly. The patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, said the attack was a “serious act” and condemned the targeting of innocent civilians.

The incident has drawn strong reactions from world leaders, with France and Italy calling the strike “unacceptable.” The Vatican, under the late Pope Francis, had maintained a close relationship with the church, reportedly keeping in nightly contact with Father Romanelli during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Pope Leo XIV, who now leads the Church, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy.

Witnesses and the Latin Patriarchate described the scene as devastating, with mourners kneeling beside white body bags on the floor. One of the victims, Shadi Abu Daoud, shared that his 70-year-old mother was among those killed in the attack. Gaza’s civil defence agency confirmed the deaths at the church, and the attack has further strained the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where over two million people are living in extreme conditions.

The war, which began with Hamas’ attack on Israel in October 2023, has led to widespread displacement and severe shortages of food and supplies. According to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, Israel’s retaliatory military operations have killed at least 58,667 Palestinians, mostly civilians. Meanwhile, the Israeli military claims it has taken “every feasible effort” to minimize harm to civilians and religious structures.

As the international community reacts, the Vatican and Catholic leaders have called for an end to the conflict, emphasizing the need for peace and the protection of religious sites. Monsignor Pascal Gollnisch, head of Catholic charity l’Oeuvre d’Orient, described the attack as “totally unacceptable,” highlighting that the church was a place of worship and refuge for families, not a military target.

With the situation in Gaza continuing to deteriorate, the world watches closely as the crisis unfolds, hoping for a resolution that will bring peace and protect the vulnerable.